Category Archives: AUS activities

October 8, 2015: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again!

The Austin Ukulele Society had a sp-uke-tacularly great October meeting! 🙂 We conjured the Halloween spirit by learning to play the “Time Warp” – the rockin’ hit from the cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – as well as revisiting “Monster Mash.”

Members thrilled us by wearing costumes from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and other colorful accessories. You can download the lyrics and chords for the “Time Warp” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

As always, we were treated to great talent during the open mic portion of the evening, which included some Halloween-inspired tunes as well as less terrifying tales of dreaming and love. A special thanks to TUG (the Tuesday Ukulele Group), John, Charlie and Brock, Kathy Murray and Bill “Monster” Jones, Mardi, and Alex.

We look forward to keeping the seasonal holiday spirit going at our next meeting Thursday, November 12! 🙂

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

★ Rattle Inn Open Mic Night: Wednesday, Sept. 30! ★

As most of you know, our monthly meetings feature an ‘open mic’ portion of the evening, and we are always inspired by all of the great talent displayed. In fact, that is why the Austin Ukulele Society is pleased to host another Ukulele Open Mic Night on Wednesday, September 30th!

The venue is the fabulous Rattle Inn, at 610 Nueces St. in Austin, right at the corner of West 6th Street and Nueces.

Here’s a flyer to download, if you’d like to display it or help spread the word!

We’ll have sign-up from 7:00 until 7:30pm, with performances running from 7:30 to 9:30pm. If you would like to participate, please plan to have 1 or 2 songs prepared. We’re keeping the limit to 1 or 2 songs to ensure everyone has a chance to perform. If there’s time, we’ll start the list over for those who would like to share an additional song. 🙂

If you’d rather not play, then just come out for a cool beverage and a great show!

There is no cover charge, and there is free/metered street parking after 6:00pm on Wednesdays. The Rattle Inn serves great drinks, has a good taco truck adjacent to it, and you can bring food in. 🙂 All of that plus an evening of ukulele music – who could ask for more?

We look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it out to perform or support ukulele music in Austin, on Wednesday, September 30th, at the Rattle Inn!

Also, with October just around the corner, we also hope to see you at our upcoming monthly meeting on Thursday, October 8th! Details coming soon!

September 10, 2015: The Boys of Summer!

A little thunder and lightning couldn’t stop the Austin Ukulele Society’s meeting of 100+ ukulele players of all ages and levels, from places as far as Waco and with folks so new that they bought ukuleles on the way to the meeting. 🙂 We enjoyed kissing the hottest days of the Texas summer goodbye by learning to sing, strum, and pick Don Henley’s 1980s hit “The Boys of Summer“. You can download the lyrics and chords for “The Boys of Summer” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

Not only did the September meeting attendees have a terrific time playing together, but they all enjoyed the talents displayed by our various open mic participants – Vince, Cranius, Richard, Walter, Jennifer, Ross and Woody – to boot.

We look forward to our next meeting on October 8, where we are sure to get the Halloween spirit going! 🙂

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

August 13, 2015: Ripple in Still Water

The Austin Ukulele Society had a fabulous August meeting with a record-setting turnout of nearly 140 ukulele enthusiasts. 🙂 Everyone enjoyed learning to sing and strum the well-loved classic hit, “Ripple,” as we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Grateful Dead. A special thanks to Charley for sharing the inspiring Playing for Change version of this song and to Gary for providing the tempo on his upright bass. You can download the lyrics and chords for “Ripple” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

Our ukulele enthusiasts also enjoyed revisiting the fabulous “Wagon Wheel,” as well playing warm-up and closing songs “Three Little Birds” and “On the Road Again.”

We were lucky and privileged to enjoy a wealth of talent on a variety of covers and originals during the open mic portion of the evening – much appreciation to Janet, Cranius, Richard Haas, Bill and Kathy, Cindy, Richard Walters, Jack, and Kevin with his students.

We look forward to seeing you all again for some great ukulele music on September 10th! 🙂

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

July 9, 2015: Hotter than a firework!

The Austin Ukulele Society’s July meeting definitely left us all in awe (awe, awe) as a record-breaking 115 members had a blast playing Katy Perry’s 2010 mega-hit “Firework.” Bob introduced alternate strumming and vocal variations which made the song both interesting to learn and fun to play. You can download the lyrics and chords for “Firework” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

Our ukulele enthusiasts also enjoyed revisiting their February/Valentine’s Day tune, Sam Cooke’s “Cupid,” as well playing warm-up and closing songs “Three Little Birds” and “On the Road Again.”

The open mic portion of the meeting was an absolute treat, as we heard a variety of songs played by Liam, Luke, Anna, Leta and her Australian friend, Jennifer, and Alyssa. And the talented Elaine introduced us to the fabulous Swagerty Treholipee!

The second Thursday of the month truly is a wonderful chance to make and hear great ukulele music with our Austin area friends, and we look forward to the August 13th meeting! 🙂

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

June 27, 2015: Keepin’ Austin Weird!

For the third year in a row, an ensemble of Austin Ukulele Society members wowed the runners in the Keep Austin Weird 5K! Many stopped to dance, sing along, or just take a selfie with us. It was a hot time for runners and strummers alike! MANY thanks to everyone who came out. Can’t wait til next year!

June 11, 2015: When You’re Smiling!

Our June meeting was so delightful, it nearly made us swoon! Well, maybe the lack of air conditioning contributed, too, but we managed to stay cool and jazzy with a great Tin Pan Alley-era medley arranged by Bob. The group sounded just lovely harmonizing on three songs every ukulele player should have in his or her repertoire: 🙂

“When You’re Smiling” by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher and Joe Goodwin, 1928
“Ain’t She Sweet?” by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen, 1927
“On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields, 1930

You can download the lyrics and chords for our “Tin Pan Alley Medley” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along). And here we are performing it:

In honor of the all the rain Austin has recently received, we revisited “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” before opening up the floor to great and varied open mic performers.

We enjoyed Jack covering Buddy Holly, Woody paying tribute to fathers, Walter bringing back “Crazy Words, Crazy Tune,” a funny and enjoyable Tin Pan Alley tune about ukulele players, as well as Ray, Richard, Helen, and Bob’s diverse songs about love. As always, we’re so grateful for the talent shared with us.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting on July 9! 🙂

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

May 14, 2015: Dancing In the Dark!

With first-timers from as far as Oklahoma and Austin Ukulele Society veterans alike, the 90 or so May meeting attendees enjoyed an energetic and fun-filled evening. We learned and played Bruce Springsteen’s mega-hit from the 80’s, “Dancing in the Dark.” Bob broke down the chord progressions, making it easier for us to put the song together and sound great playing it after just a few run-throughs. The Boss himself would be proud.

You can download the lyrics and chords for “Dancing in the Dark” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

We also enjoyed revisiting Roy Orbison’s “You Got It” as well playing our usual warm up and closing tunes.

We were thrilled to have a talented assortment of open mic solos, duos, and trios:
Cranius    |    Alex    |    David    |    Anna and Leta

Christine, Charlie, and Brock    |    Kendra and Bob

We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on June 11! 🙂

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

April 24, 2015 – Performance at Lakeway!

Members of the Austin Ukulele Society had a wonderful time playing some of our favorite songs for a sold out event at the Lakeway Activity Center. With rhythm by Gary on upright bass, kazoo solos by Walter, a surprise guest appearance by a Lakeway Sing Along member on sax, and sweet harmonies throughout, the attendees were delighted by our performance. A special thanks to Nick Renneker and Joann Anderson for inviting us back, to Bob for his musical guidance, to Jen for coordinating the group, and to Lyda for great photography.

April 9, 2015: Build Me Up Buttercup!

The Austin Ukulele Society’s April meeting attendees had a terrific time learning and singing “Build Me Up Buttercup,” the contagiously catchy Foundations hit that likely gets stuck in your head whenever you hear it. Well, now you can sit down and strum and sing it the next time that happens! We also enjoyed revisiting the Jimmy Buffet classic “Margaritaville,” as well as our traditional meeting songs “Three Little Birds” and “On the Road Again”.

You can download the lyrics and chords for “Build Me Up Buttercup” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

We were treated to delightful and varied open mic performances by Vince, Cranius, Walter, Richard, Leta, and Liam, with a great mix of original songs, covers, and our first ever song performed and sung in Japanese.

As always, we look forward to the next time we meet on May 14, and we hope to see you out and about at some live ukulele music shows, soon! 🙂